Tractor-wheel.



S. T. ALLEN.

TRACTOR WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4. 191a.

Patented Mar. 18,1919.

[.NVENTOR. 57267726 :Z7LT/7Z Zara,

4 TTORNEY s.

SHERMAN T. ALLEN, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TRACTOR-WHEEL.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Application filed October 4, 1918. Serial No. 256,823.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHERMAN.T. ALLEN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of California, have invented new-and usefulImprovements in Tractor-VVheels, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a tractor wheel. I

It is an object of this invention to construct a tractor wheel providedwith radial self cleaning grouters in which a plunger is normally held aslight distance from the outer end thereof forming a cup shaped recess.The plunger is spring controlled so that on encountering any obstaclesin the road it will move inwardly toward the frame of the wheel, therebyaffording superior traction. When the grouters leave the ground theplunger is moved outwardly ejecting any mud or gravel which may havelodged therein, and thus prevent them from becoming clogged up. I 7

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention consists in the construction,arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Ihave illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which, 7

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my tractor wheel, one of the groutersbeing shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a detail in plan showing the router supporting plates, lookingin the c direction indicated by arrow 2.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1 showing a pair ofgrouters in vertical cross section.

Fig. 4 is a perspective fragment of a tractor wheel showing a modifiedconstruction of the grouters.

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, showing another type ofgrouter.

Referring to the drawings the tractor wheel consists of a hub 10 andspokes 11 secured to rim 12. The outer periphery of the rim 12 isprovided with a series of rectangular grouter supporting plates 13 whichare secured thereto by means of stud bolts 14 passing through thecorners of adjacent plates 13 and engaging screw-threaded apertures 15in the rim 12. 16 are washers for the bolts 14, said washers overlappingthe two adjacentplates 13, as is clearly shown in 2. p

In the construction shown in Figs. 13 inclusive, each plate is providedwith a pair of conical bosses 17, said pairs of bosses being arrangedtransversely to the periphery of the wheel. The bosses 17 are providedwith radial cylindrical bores 18, for the reception of tubular groutermembers 19 fitting tightly therein and held in place by frictionalengagement. The lower end of the tubular member 19 abuts against theshoulder 17 while the upper end projects a short distance from the outerend of the bosses. The outer ends of the tubular grouter members 19 arebeveled as at 20 to provide a firmer grip upon the ground when thetractor wheel is traveling. A plunger 21 having a stem 22 integraltherewith is slidably mounted for reciprocal movement in the tubularmember 19. contractile spring 23 is disposed about the stem 22 andfastened thereto with one end, and with the other end secured in agroove 24 in the grouter supporting plates 13. The normal position ofthe plunger 21 is such that the outer end is spaced a slight distancefrom the outer end of the tubular member 19, thereby forming a shallowcup shaped recess 26. A mud and sand discharge aperture 25, in the rim12 of slightly smaller diameter than the tubular members 19, is disposedbelow each of such members and affords an outlet for any mud or sandwhich may have entered past the plunger into the interior of the tubularmembers 19.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 41 the grouter attachment consists ofa ring shaped frame 27, rectangular in cross section, which is suitablysecured to the rim 12 by means of U-shaped bands 28. The grouterattachment 27 is provided with a series of rectangular sockets orchambers 29, each having mounted therein a grouter plunger 30- slightlyspaced from the outer periphery of the member 27 to form a shallow cupshaped recess 31. The plunger 30 hasv a stem 32 integral therewithfastened to a retractile spring 33 whose inner end is suitably securedto the rim 12 at 34. 35 are a series of openings on the lateral sides ofthe grouter attachment 27, each socket or chamber 29 communicating witha pair of openings 35.

In the operation of my tractor wheel the grouters will incontacting-with the ground secure a firm grip thereon. Any obstaclessuch as gravel and stones will force the grouter plungers inwardly. Justas soon as the grouters leave the ground the grouter springs will pushthe plungers outwardly,

thereby ejecting any matter lodged in the.

tubularmembers, thus making the grouters self cleaning. Due to the factthat the plunger is spaced from the outer ends. of the grouters'forminga shallow cup shaped recess, the frictional contact of the grouters onhard froads or ground is increased, the

beveled edges of thetubular members biting. into the" ground or roadbed. If'any dust or mud should work past the plungers into the interiorof the tubular grouter members, the same will bedislodged and dischargedduring the travel of*the"w1heel through the openings 25 in the type ,of

wheel shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and through openings 35 in the type ofwheel shown in Fig. 4. 1

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, I have dispensed altogether withthe plunger and spring controlling the same. In this type thegrouterconsists of the tubular member 19 mounted in the conical bosses 17.

Any mud or gravel entering the tubular members will Work loose and bedischarged during the travel of the wheel through the ,dischargeopenings 25.

grouters extending radially from the frame, I

each grouter comprising a tubular member, a plunger slidably mountedtherein and normally spaced a slight distance from the outer end of saidtubular member, thereby forming a cup shaped recess therewith, said tu-1 bular member having a'discharge orifice, a contractile springoperatively connected to said plunger said spring tending to move thesame into normal position and allowing the same to be moved toward theframe on encountering resistance on the road.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

SHERMAN T. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of .Ifatents,

' Washington, D. 0.

